Bruce calls for incentive

HOSPITALITY NT chief executive Alex Bruce has called on the Territory and federal governments to consider innovative ways to bolster vaccination rates.

In a wide-ranging column in today’s Sunday Territorian, Mr Bruce has called for various popular government schemes to be limited to those who have received the jab.

“There already are No Jab No Pay policies at the commonwealth level linking access to childcare subsidies and family benefits to parents making sure their babies and children have been vaccinated,” Mr Bruce wrote.

“You can see this being expanded to a range of welfare payments to further drive vaccination rates both in urban and remote communities.”

Mr Bruce also warned his industry was anxious about getting vaccination rates up.

“The cost to our industry and our staff and their families is far too great for our vaccination rate to fall further down the national league table,” he said.

“Our industry, among others, cops it in the neck every time a lockdown happens or a border to a key market is slammed shut.”

Mr Bruce also sent a message to his own industry, pleading with workers and customers to get vaccinated as quickly as possible so businesses are able to stay open in the event of another outbreak.